Nour Party leader criticizes Abu Ismail supporters' protest

By-Almasry Alyoum |
10 May 2012

A leader from the Salafi-oriented Nour Party on Tuesday criticized a gathering organized by supporters of disqualified presidential hopeful Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, who are protesting the decision to exclude him from the race.

Abu Ismail and hundreds of his supporters staged a sit-in at the Presidential Elections Commission after it issued the decision Tuesday evening. Egyptian news outlets said the supporters moved their sit-in to downtown Cairo in Tahrir Square.

Nour Party spokesperson Nader Bakkar’s statements to the privately owned Dream TV channel were quoted by state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper. Bakkar said the party totally objects to the demonstrations.

“Creating chaos and gatherings shouldn’t be his supporters’ way to defend him,” he said.

The commission disqualified Abu Ismail because of documents it says prove that his mother, Nawal Abdel Aziz Nour, held US citizenship. Abu Ismail says the documents — voter registration and passport applications — are fake and that his mother only held a green card.

Bakkar said the sit-in is “totally rejected because it doesn’t conform to either Salafism or Islam. What’s happening is a new strife.”

He emphasized that the Salafi party is not part of the case.

“Once we ensure he’s lying, we’ll be the first to dissociate ourselves [from him]. We, as the Nour Party and the political Islam trend, are confused — like other citizens and Abu Ismail’s supporters,” he added.

Bakkar also said the party had earlier called on the commission to have the final say so citizens would be reassured. They also called on Abu Ismail to clarify the situation.

The commission, Bakkar said, should disclose all documents it has. Abu Ismail also should show his mother’s green card, if he has it.

Abu Ismail warned on Tuesday that an Islamic revolution would ensue if he was excluded from the race.